Motor Vehicle Accidents
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) Accident Lawyer in Ontario
Quick answer: If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Ontario, you can generally claim, but which insurance policy pays depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. Passengers are usually in the strongest position. As with any motor vehicle accident, you may have both accident benefits and a tort claim.
Rideshare accidents follow the same basic Ontario framework as any car accident, accident benefits from an insurer regardless of fault, plus a possible tort claim against whoever was at fault (our car accident page explains that framework). What makes rideshare claims different, and often more complicated, is the insurance. Several policies can be in play, and which one responds depends on the trip phase.
Why rideshare insurance is different
In short: Uber and Lyft carry commercial insurance that applies during certain phases of a trip, while the driver's personal policy applies at other times. Establishing which phase applied at the moment of the crash shapes the entire claim.
Ontario coverage generally works in phases based on the driver's app status:
| Phase | What the driver was doing | Which coverage generally applies |
|---|---|---|
| App off | Not working; app closed | The driver's personal auto policy, as with any ordinary crash |
| App on, waiting | Logged in, no ride accepted yet | A limited contingent layer from the rideshare policy, alongside the personal policy |
| En route / passenger aboard | Ride accepted, or a passenger is in the car | The rideshare company's larger commercial liability policy |
Coverage limits and rules are set by the rideshare companies' Ontario policies and provincial requirements (see FSRA's ridesharing insurance guidance). The endorsement that keeps a driver's personal policy valid during ridesharing is the OPCF 6A. Amounts and terms change, so confirm the current figures for your situation. [CONFIRM current coverage limits and phase rules before relying on them]
Who can bring a claim
- Passengers in the Uber or Lyft, who are almost never at fault and are usually covered by the company's commercial policy while on a trip.
- Other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians struck by a rideshare vehicle.
- The rideshare driver, who may claim accident benefits and, if someone else was at fault, pursue a tort claim, with the applicable coverage depending on the trip phase.
Act quickly to preserve trip data
How AK Lawyers handles these claims
AK Lawyers (Antonov Kaganovich LLP) represents injured people, never insurers or rideshare companies. With rideshare claims, our focus is on: [CONFIRM process points with AK; remove any the firm does not do]
- Establishing the trip phase and identifying every policy that may respond, then pursuing the right insurer.
- Preserving app and trip data that proves what the driver was doing at the moment of the collision.
- We manage both tracks (your accident-benefits claim and any tort claim) so deadlines are met and nothing falls through the cracks.
- You are not just a file. You'll have a clear point of contact and plain-language updates.
- Contingency fees. You don't pay legal fees unless your claim succeeds. The fee is a percentage set out in a written contingency-fee agreement at the start, which also explains how disbursements are handled.
Serving Toronto & the Greater Toronto Area
Based in Toronto, AK Lawyers helps people injured in Uber and Lyft collisions across Toronto and the GTA, including Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, and Scarborough. These claims are generally handled through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Frequently asked questions
I was a passenger in an Uber that crashed. Am I covered?
Almost always. Passengers are rarely at fault, and while a trip is in progress the rideshare company's commercial policy generally applies. You can usually claim accident benefits regardless of who caused the crash, and pursue a tort claim against the at-fault party.
A rideshare driver hit me while I was walking or cycling. Can I claim?
Yes. Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a rideshare vehicle can claim, and the coverage that applies depends on the driver's trip phase at the time. A lawyer can identify which policy responds.
I drive for Uber or Lyft and was hurt on the job. What are my options?
You can claim accident benefits and, if another party was at fault, pursue a tort claim against them. Which liability coverage applies depends on your trip status at the moment of the crash, so preserving your app and trip records is important.
Do I pay anything upfront?
No. AK Lawyers works on a contingency basis, so you don't pay legal fees unless your claim succeeds. The fee is a percentage agreed in writing at the start.
Related pages
← Motor vehicle accidents
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